Thomson

It’s a heck of a way to run a pre-election campaign. On the eve of an expected election, politicians usually spend their time playing up good news, downplaying the bad, shaking hands and kissing babies.

McPherson joined Stampeders after some heady recommendations from friends Burris, Glenn and Taylor

Quarterback happy to join Calgary CFL team in whatever role they need him for

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Adrian McPherson scrambles to make a touchdown pass against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during a 2011 game. He is returning to the CFL as a member of the Calgary Stampeders.

Photograph by: john kenney
, The Gazette

Before Adrian McPherson made his decision to join the Calgary Stampeders, he turned to a couple of well-versed sources.

“The first thing I did was call Henry Burris (and) I called Kevin Glenn,” explained McPherson. “They said, hey, that’s a great organization, those are great people, they’re honest people. They’re going to shoot you straight. And to hear that from guys that are no longer there meant a lot to me.

“Then I called Larry Taylor, who’s a close friend of mine, and he told me the same thing. In this point in my career, I’m just looking for honesty and they’ve been honest with me. I’m comfortable with the situation I’m stepping into. I know they have two really good quarterbacks there, but I just wanted to get back outside and play football for a winning organization.”

The Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday announced officially the signing of McPherson as an addition to their stable of QBs which includes Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell. With five years as a member of the Montreal Alouettes, the 30-year-old fills the veteran presence which Calgary lost when Kevin Glenn was snatched by the Ottawa Redblacks in the expansion draft.

“It crossed my mind,” said McPherson of the possibility the Stamps would come calling. “I’ve had a long friendship with John Murphy (Stamps’ director of player personnel). With the relationship I had with him and in talking with him, I thought that it would be a great opportunity.

“Honestly, I’m just looking to come in and help anyway I can. If that’s being a mentor . . . whatever I can do to help the team. I think Drew’s a good quarterback, I think Bo Levi’s a good quarterback. My job is to continue to work hard and I’ll do whatever they ask me to do.”

The time McPherson spent in Montreal was largely as Anthony Calvillo’s caddy. With the latter at the zenith of his career, McPherson was called on in short-yardage duty during that squad’s era of great success, winning a pair of Grey Cups.

“Honestly, it was good and bad at the same time,” he recalled. “It’s great to be a part of a winning tradition. It was great being with Anthony and Marc Trestman, I learned so much from them. But again, you want to play. I wasn’t able to get the opportunity to play, but to Anthony’s credit, he played at such a high level while I was there. It taught me how to win, it taught me what it was like to be a part of a winning organization and Calgary has that.”

Last season was spent close to his Sarasota, Fla., home with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. He was involved in 90 touchdowns — 59 through the air and 31 on the ground. Yet the CFL sirens’ call continued to beckon.

“Absolutely,” the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder admitted. “The only reason I played in Tampa is I spoke with my dad and I said, you know what, I believe in myself and I have nothing to gain and everything to lose playing arena football. If I go play and don’t do well, people are going to say we told you so. I just wanted to show people that I can play football. Arena is smaller, it’s a lot faster and you have to be really accurate throwing the ball and I just wanted to show people I can throw the ball accurately. For the past five years, I wasn’t playing, so people really didn’t know what I can do. I thought it was a win-win for me, I was able to play well and my team did well.

“I’m excited. It was hard for me last year watching the games on TV. Never did I think I’d be a part of this organization because they’re always pretty set.”

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Adrian McPherson scrambles to make a touchdown pass against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during a 2011 game. He is returning to the CFL as a member of the Calgary Stampeders.

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